Kool & the Gang had it right. It’s too hot. Too hot, lady. With temperatures at or over 100 degrees this week, my only refuge was to work in the early morning hours. This past week I scheduled a removal from a cemetery. A couple of weeks ago the tornado came through and tore upContinueContinue reading “Gotta run for shelter, gotta run for shade”
Tag Archives: Honeycomb
“I don’t usually do beehive removals in the winter.” Removal work is seasonal, I went on to explain to Chris – the guy on the other end of the line. But it isn’t just because the bees are active or not active – it is more a matter of their survivability once they have beenContinueContinue reading
Stalin with a Southern Accent
Bee suits are meant to be worn standing up. When you are standing up, the veil is held away from your face, and the double layering of the cloth of the suit falls loosely away from your body. Any angry bee with a grudge sting that manages to penetrate the first layer of the clothContinueContinue reading “Stalin with a Southern Accent”
Gumption Trap
The Beekeep approaches the removal while all of his companions, fainting from hunger, looked on. The hum from the hive intensifies slightly, as the guard bees go on alert. The hot sun beats down on the unshaded heads of the travelers standing in the field. The beekeep sets his shoulders to the task, and beginsContinueContinue reading “Gumption Trap”
Pushing them too far
After working with mean honeybees for a couple of weeks straight, I really wanted a nice, simple, friendly interaction with bees to restore my confidence. A sting or two is ok and expected, especially with a removal where you are taking the bees out of their home and away from their resources. It makes sense.ContinueContinue reading “Pushing them too far”
Straightforward. Yeah, right.
“WHY would I use the word ‘straightforward’ in ANY sentence involving beehive removal work??” I stared at the wall, hoping solutions would appear. Solutions failed to appear. I stared some more. Solutions persisted in their absence. The job was supposed to be relatively straightforward. My boss at the Corps had a hive that had shownContinueContinue reading “Straightforward. Yeah, right.”
Love on the Battlefield
The setting of the National Cemetery at the Vicksburg National Military Park is one of the most peaceful ones imaginable. The rolling loess hillside, graves in neat rows, each section terraced to provide a continuity among the gathered dead. Oak trees, expanded to their full canopied width. Magnificent magnolia trees, filled with heady blossoms. AncientContinueContinue reading “Love on the Battlefield”
Recent Arrival
“How long has the hive been there?”Whenever I am answering a request to do a honeybee hive removal for someone, I have a series of questions I ask. Did you spray them? How high are they? Are they aggressive? Are they getting inside?I just added the question above to my list, because the answer canContinueContinue reading “Recent Arrival”
Pretender to the Throne
She has no claim on this throne, but she went in, nevertheless.2 queens, 2 cages, 3 nurse bees to help out. $37.50 each.Last Saturday, I bought a nucleus hive and two queens from my mentor. (A recent flood had taken out a bunch of his ‘nucs’, and he only had one that he could sellContinueContinue reading “Pretender to the Throne”
The Beverly Carol – a B&B&B
It seems as though working at heights is my go-to job now. Once again, I had a bee removal effort in Vicksburg, where the elevation of the job just gave me pause. The entrance to this hive at the Beverly Carol – a historic home in the downtown area of Vicksburg, was high on theContinueContinue reading “The Beverly Carol – a B&B&B”
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